Compression shirt with roll-over sleeve

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of the invention is a shirt comprising a body portion for receiving a user&#39;s torso and first and second sleeves attached to the body portion. The first and second sleeves each have an elbow region including at least a first anti-slip pattern and a cuff region including at least a second anti-slip region. In use, an elbow pad may be disposed over an upper region of one sleeve such that an inner surface of the elbow pad contacts the first anti-slip pattern. A lower sleeve portion including the cuff region may be folded over the elbow pad such that the second anti-slip pattern contacts an outer surface of the elbow pad.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/278,488, filed Oct. 21, 2011 which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.119(e) of U.S. provisional application 61/455,469 filed Oct. 21, 2010which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

For many athletic events such as hockey, elbow pads are worn over along-sleeve compression garment or similar undergarment to protect anathlete's elbow and arm. The elbow pads are worn over the long-sleevegarment because the shirt sleeves are designed to compress to anathlete's arms. However, a lack of friction between the shirt sleeve andthe inner surface of the elbow pads and/or the shirt sleeve and theuser's arm often causes the pad to slip relative to the user's elbow andarm. This slippage may cause discomfort and increase the chance ofinjury.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the invention is a shirt comprising a body portion forreceiving a user's torso and first and second sleeves attached to thebody portion. The first and second sleeves each have an elbow regionincluding at least a first anti-slip pattern and a cuff region includingat least a second anti-slip region. In use, an elbow pad may be disposedover an upper region of one sleeve such that an inner surface of theelbow pad contacts the first anti-slip pattern. A lower sleeve portionincluding the cuff region may be folded over the elbow pad such that thesecond anti-slip pattern contacts an outer surface of the elbow pad.

Another embodiment is a shirt comprising a body portion for receiving auser's torso and first and second sleeves attached to the body portion.The first and second sleeves each include an upper sleeve portion and alower sleeve portion attached to the upper sleeve portion. The lowersleeve portion is comprised of a first material that has a greaterdegree of elasticity than a second material that comprises the uppersleeve portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shirt according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a flattened shirt sleeve according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3C show an embodiment of the present invention in use;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a flattened shirt sleeve according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention in use;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-section of a shirt sleeve according to anembodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compression shirt garment 10 accordingto one embodiment of the present invention, which includes a torso 11and a sleeve 12 with an upper sleeve portion 14 and a lower sleeveportion 16 attached to the upper sleeve portion 14.

The garment 10 may be formed from a conventional compression materialsuch as “Lycra” or a similar material known to compress against a user'sbody. The upper sleeve portion 14 may be formed from the same materialas the garment 10 so that it compresses against a user's arm. In oneembodiment, the lower sleeve portion 16 may be formed to have a greaterdegree of expansion relative to the user's arm than the upper sleeveportion 14 along an axis 17 that is transverse to a longitudinal axis ofthe sleeve. For example, lower sleeve portion 16 may be formed from amaterial that allows for a higher degree of stretchability and/orelasticity along axis 17 than the material that forms the upper sleeveportion 14. In particular, the lower sleeve portion 16 may be formedfrom a compression material that has a higher degree of elasticity orstretchability than the compression material that forms the upper sleeveportion 14. In another example, the lower sleeve portion 16 is formedfrom a material with a different fiber alignment than the material thatforms the upper sleeve portion 14. In a further embodiment, the lowersleeve portion 16 includes a gusset of material that has a greaterdegree of expansion relative to the user's arm.

FIG. 2 is a flattened view of the sleeve 12, essentially as it wouldlook prior sewing the sleeve to the torso 11. The sleeve includes a cuffregion 18, an elbow region 19, a lower anti-slip pattern 20 in the cuffregion 18, an upper anti-slip pattern 22 in the elbow region 19 and aseam 21 attaching the upper sleeve portion 14 to the lower sleeveportion 16. The lower anti-slip pattern 20 and upper anti-slip pattern22 may be used to secure a separate elbow pad as further described withrespect to FIGS. 3A-3C. A variety of different anti-slip patterns (e.g.,bands, lines, dashes, dots) and shape configurations may be used. In theillustrated embodiment, the upper anti-slip pattern 22 includes acircular pattern generally around the elbow region 19. In otherembodiments, the upper anti-slip pattern 22 may include a pattern thatextends around some or all of the circumference of the sleeve 12. Asillustrated, the lower anti-slip pattern is in the form of a wave-likepattern. In other embodiments, the lower anti-slip pattern 20 may extendaround some or all of cuff region 18. In one embodiment, only the loweranti-slip pattern 20 is included.

The lower anti-slip region 20 and upper anti-slip pattern 22 may beformed from a material that reduces slippage when the anti-slip patterncontacts an elbow pad. For example, the anti-slip patter may reduce thecoefficient of friction between the sleeve 12 and the elbow pad comparedto portions of the sleeve that do not include the anti-slip pattern. Inone embodiment, at least one of the anti-slip regions may comprise apolymer material such as a silicone rubber or resin material that isprinted onto or impregnated into the sleeve fabric. In anotherembodiment, at least one of the anti-slip regions may include a raisedpattern such as a series of rubber ribs that reduces slippage. In afurther embodiment, at least one of the patterns may comprise a reusableadhesive material.

As further shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, an elbow pad 24 may be worn by a userover the sleeve 12 of the compression garment 10. The elbow pad 24 ispositioned over the upper sleeve portion 14 so that an inner surface ofthe elbow pad 24 is in contact with upper anti-slip pattern 22 to reducesliding of the elbow pad relative to the sleeve. The lower sleeveportion 16 is configured such that a user can fold the lower sleeveportion 16 over the elbow pad 24. As previously noted, the lower sleeveportion 16 may be configured to have a higher degree of expansion thanthe upper sleeve portion 14 so that it can be folded over the elbow pad24 to further secure the elbow pad 24. Once the lower portion 16 isfolded, the lower anti-slip pattern 20 contacts an outside surface ofthe elbow pad 24 to reduce movement of the elbow pad 24 relative to thelower sleeve portion 16. Cuff 18 may serve to secure the sleeve over theelbow pad 24. For example, cuff 18 may include an elastic band or astrap that provides additional securement.

One benefit of the sleeve 12 described herein is that it can be usedwith virtually any elbow pad 24, and does not require any additionalanti-slip components on the elbow pad 24.

FIG. 4 is an inside-out flattened view of the sleeve 12 according toanother embodiment, which includes an optional inside anti-slip pattern30 disposed on an inner surface of the sleeve 12 such that it contactsthe skin. The inside anti-slip pattern 30 may be formed from any of thematerials and formed in any of the patterns previously described.Additionally, inside anti-slip pattern 30 may be used as an alternativeor in addition to the anti-slip patterns disposed on the outside surfaceof the sleeve 12.

In a further embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the lower sleeve portion 16includes an outer sleeve 26 formed as described above, and an innersleeve 28 that may be formed from the same material as the remainder ofthe garment. The outer sleeve 26 and the inner sleeve 28 may be joinedwith the upper sleeve portion 14 at a seam 21. In this embodiment, theouter sleeve 26 may be extended over the elbow pad without exposing theuser's arm.

FIG. 6 is a schematic, longitudinal cross-sectional view of sleeve a 40showing one embodiment in which lower sleeve portion 16 includes adouble layer of fabric 44 disposed between proximal seam 42, whichattached to upper sleeve portion 14, and distal seam 48. The cuff 18includes an elastic ring 46 held in place by the distal seem 48. Thesleeve 12 is folded over at the proximal seam 42 to secure the elbowpad.

What is claimed is: 1.-16. (canceled)
 17. A compression garmentcomprising: a body portion adapted to receive a torso of a user; a firstsleeve attached to the body portion and adapted to receive a first armof a user; and a second sleeve attached to the body portion and adaptedto receive a second arm of a user, wherein each sleeve comprises: anupper sleeve portion defining a first outer surface including a firstanti-slip pattern; and a lower sleeve portion including a strap anddefining a second outer surface including a second anti-slip patternconfigured to be positioned opposite the first anti-slip pattern uponfolding of the lower sleeve portion to a folded position over the uppersleeve portion, the strap being configured to secure the lower portionin the folded position such that the lower sleeve portion of each sleeveis configured to fold at least partially over an elbow pad with thefirst anti-slip pattern contacting an inner surface of the elbow pad andthe second anti-slip pattern contacting an outer surface of the elbowpad to reduce sliding of the elbow pad relative to the lower sleeveportion.
 18. The compression garment of claim 17, wherein the anti-slippattern is formed of a polymeric material configured to have a reducedcoefficient of friction as compared to portions of the first and secondsleeves that do not include the anti-slip pattern.
 19. The compressiongarment of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second sleevesdefines a transverse axis and the lower sleeve portions of each of thefirst and second sleeves accommodates a greater degree of expansion thanthe upper sleeve portions along the transverse axes of the sleeves. 20.The compression garment of claim 17, wherein each of the first andsecond sleeves defines a transverse axis and the lower sleeve portionsof each of the first and second sleeves has a greater degree ofelasticity than the upper sleeve portions along the transverse axes ofthe sleeves.
 21. A shirt comprising: a body portion configured toreceive a user's torso; a first sleeve attached to the body portionadapted to receive a user's first arm; and a second sleeve attached tothe body portion adapted to receive the user's second arm; wherein eachsleeve comprises: an upper sleeve portion; an elbow region defining afirst outer surface including a first anti-slip pattern configured tocontact an inner surface of an elbow pad; a lower sleeve portiondefining a second outer surface including a second anti-slip pattern;and a cuff region including an elastic band, wherein the lower sleeveportion of each sleeve is configured to fold at least partially over theelbow pad such that the second anti-slip pattern contacts an outersurface of the elbow pad to reduce sliding of the elbow pad relative tothe lower sleeve portion, and the elastic band is configured to securethe sleeve over the elbow pad.
 22. The shirt of claim 21, wherein thelower sleeve portion has a greater degree of expansion than the uppersleeve portion along a transverse axis of the sleeve.
 23. The shirt ofclaim 21, wherein the lower sleeve portion has a greater degree ofelasticity than the upper sleeve portion along a transverse axis of thesleeve.
 24. The shirt of claim 21, wherein the upper sleeve portioncomprises a first material and the lower sleeve portion comprises asecond material.
 25. The shirt of claim 21, further comprising a seamthat divides the upper sleeve portion from the lower sleeve portion. 26.The shirt of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first and secondanti-slip patterns comprises a raised pattern.
 27. The shirt of claim21, wherein at least one of the first and second anti-slip patternscomprises at least one of a laminate, a printed, a polymer, a silicone,or an adhesive material.
 28. The shirt of claim 21 further comprising aninner anti-slip pattern disposed on an inside surface of the sleeve. 29.The shirt of claim 21, wherein the elastic band is disposed in the cuffregion and configured to be stretched over and be disposed over theelbow pad to provide additional securement of the elbow pad in placewhen the sleeve is folded.
 30. The shirt of claim 21, wherein the lowersleeve member includes an inner sleeve member and an outer sleeve memberthat are joined at a proximal seam with the upper sleeve member.
 31. Anelbow protection system comprising: a sleeve having an upper sleeveportion having a first degree of elasticity and including a firstanti-slip pattern, and a lower sleeve portion having a second degree ofelasticity and including a second anti-slip pattern, a seam between theupper sleeve portion and lower sleeve portion, and an elastic band; anelbow pad having an inner surface in contact with the first anti-slippattern and wherein the lower sleeve portion is adapted to be foldedover an outer surface of the elbow pad such that the second anti-slippattern contacts the outer surface of the elbow pad in order to securethe elbow pad in position, wherein the elastic band of the sleeve isconfigured to be stretched over and be disposed over the elbow pad toprovide additional securement of the elbow pad in place when the sleeveis folded.